D. C. 's ronald reagan national airport #4 in top 10 most unusual items found by tsa agents

D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport #4 in Top 10 Most Unusual Items Found by TSA Agents

Posted by
1 min read
January 14, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) made it into the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Top 10 List of most unusual items found at security checkpoints nationwide in 2021. TSA released the list in an on-line video it posted on the agency’s Twitter account.

What was the item from the airport that ranked as #4 on the Top 10 List? Read on . . .

TSA officers at DCA detected a well-worn, heavy-duty, wooden-handled machete on March 6, 2021. The dirtied blade showed it has had heavy use with what appeared to be significant wear, rust and other markings as a result of use. This specific traveler also was toting along some ammunition and a canister of flammable butane fuel.

Knives of any type—including machetes–are not permitted to be carried through an airport security checkpoint. Ammunition and butane fuel also is prohibited from being carried onto a flight.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.